Handbag handle



June 20, 1967 M. GORDON 3,326,257

HANDBAG HANDLE Filed Oct. 24, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l /7 c/vael Gordon BY W 7 TTURNE .5

M. GORDON HANDBAG HANDLE June 20, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 24, 1965 BY ATTURN 5 United States Patent 3,326,257 HANDBAG HANDLE Michael Gordon, 35 Park Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016 Filed Oct. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 504,828 8 Claims. (Cl. 150-33) This invention relates generally to handles for luggage and baggage and the like and more particularly for ladies handbags to new and useful improvements in means for connecting the hand-1e to the body of the handbag or the handbag frames.

Heretofore, straps or handles have ben swivelly connected to the handbag or handbag frames and are adapted to turn and become locked in offset position. Other straps and handles have ben connected by passing the ends of the straps through eyelets in the side of the bag and by attaching some fastener to the ends of the strap to prevent them being pulled back out of the eyelets. Such arrangements have the drawback that the strap is relatively rigidly secured at its ends and will not fall down out of the way of the users hands when access to the interior of the bag is required.

An important object of the present invention is to simplify the construction of fastening means for straps or handles and to provide a construction that can be more quickly assembled and will not have the aforesaid disadvantages.

Another object of the invention is .to provide an attachment for the handle of the handbag that is simple in construction, positive in action and more economical to manufacture.

Still another object of the invention is to simplify and improve the appearance of handbags.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for attaching a leather handle to handbag frames in a manner such that cutting of the covering material is avoided.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fragment of a ladys handbag with a handle attached thereto, the attachment embodying one form of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the attachment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the round bar element of the attachment.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of an attachment embodying a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the round bar element of the attachment of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of an attachment embodying another modified form of the invention, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the attaching plate shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the attaching plate and cotter pin of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of a modified form of attaching plate.

3,326,257 Patented June 20, 1967 FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of another modified form of attaching plate and cotter pin unit.

FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the attaching plate of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of a handbag with yet another modified form of the invention, parts being shown broken away, on a reduced scale.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 15-15 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of a fragment of a handbag embodying still another modified form of the invention.

FIG. 17 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 1717 of FIG. 16, on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 18 is a spread perspective disassembled view of the parts of FIG. 17.

Referring now in detail to the various views of the drawings, in FIG. 1 a fragment of the body of a ladys handbag 10 is shown with a cover flap 12 closing the open top of the body of the bag. The cover flap 12 is formed of leather with a fabric lining 14. The lining is shown unattached.

The present invention is concerned with novel means for attaching the ends of a flexible leather strap handle 16 to the cover flap 12. The handle 16 is formed with a loop 18 at each end thereof. The loop 18 is formed with a punched hole 20.

The attachment herein disclosed includes a metal bar 22 and a metal cotter pin 24 assembly. The bar 22 is round in cross-section and is formed of metal and may be formed of plastic or other suitable material. Midway its ends, the body of the bar is formed with an annular shallow groove 26 and at its ends with flat end edges 28, or shaped to contain insignia or stones. The cotter pin 24 is formed as usual of springy metal and has the usual tubular body 30 and juxtaposed flexible legs 32.

In assembly, with the bar 22 in the loop 18 of the handle and the cotter pin 24 mounted thereon with its tubular body 30 fitted in the groove 26 and its legs 32 juxtaposed and hanging down through the cutaway portion 26 in the loop 18 of the handle, the legs are inserted through an opening 34 formed in the top portion 36 of the fiap 12. A washer 38 is slipped over the juxtaposed legs 32 of the cotter pin 24 and slid upwardly against the top portion 36 of the flap. The legs 32 are then spread apart and clamped against the washer 38 as shown in FIG. 2. The lining 14 of the flap is then placed in position and secured to the under surface of the top portion 36. The flat end edges of the bar 22 may be decorated with suitable designs 40 to enhance the appearance of the attachment.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, the handbag 10' is shown and differs from the handbag 10 in that the handle 16' is fastened to the top portion 36 of the closure flap 12' by means of a bar 22 and a pair of cotter pins 24'. The bar 22' is formed with a pair of annular grooves 26 to accommodate the pair of cotter pins 24', and the top portion 36' of the closure flap 12' is formed with a pair of openings 34' to accommodate the cotter pins. The ends of the bar 22' are decorated with diamonds 37.

In FIGS. 7 to 9, inclusive, the modified form of attachment differs from the attachment of FIG. 1 merely in that a plate-like washer 38" is provided. The washer 38" is formed in addition to its circular central hole 2 With opposed pairs of slits 44, 44 the ends of the slits intersecting the central hole 42, thereby forming flexible fingers 46 on opposite sides of the hole whereby in assembling the tubular body 30 of the cotter pin 24" may be inserted upwardly through the hole 42 whereby the fingers 46 flex over the body and legs 32". The pointed corners 47 of the fingers 46 biting into the material of the top portion 36 prevents turning of the plate 8" and the legs 32" of the cotter pin engaging the side edges of the hole 42 preventing turning of the pin.

In FIG. 10, a modified form of washer 38a is shown consisting of a flat rectangular plate-like body 52 with a central circular hole 42a and with spurs 54, 54 projecting upwardly from diagonally opposed corners of the body for biting into the material of the top portion of the handbag to prevent turning of the washer.

FIG. 11 illustrates another modified form of washer 38m: and cotter pin 24aa unit. In this form, the plate is formed with a central circular hole 42aa and with aligned rectangular shaped openings 56, 56 on both sides of the hole 42aa. The end wall edges of each opening 56 are formed in the shape of spurs 58, 60. The spurs 58 on one side are bent upwardly and the spurs 60 on the other side are bent downwardly. The spurs 58 bite into the material of the top of the handbag preventing turning of the washer 38aa, and the spurs 60 prevent rotation of the cotter pin 2411a.

In FIGS. 11 to 15, inclusive, a ladys handbag x embodying still another modifiedform of the invention is shown. The handbag includes a body 64 open at the top and having opposed side walls 66. The side walls are lined on the inside thereof with fabric lining 14x. The opposed edges of the top opening support opposed channel-shaped metal frame members 70 held closed by interlocking latches 72. A pair of flexible opposed leather handles 16x is hingedly mounted at both ends on the opposed side walls 66 of the body of the handbag. The hinged mounting of r the ends of the handles, each includes a loop 18x on the end of the handle. A round rod 32x is positioned -in the loop 18x. The side wall of the body of the handbag is formed with an opening 74 through which the looped portion 30x of a cotter pin 24x is positioned around the rod and extends through a hole 20x in the loop of the handle. The legs 32x of the cotter pin extend through a hole 34x formed in the side wall 66 of the body of the handbag and through the hole in a washer 38x.

In FIGS. 16 to 18, inclusive, a fragment of a ladys handbag 10 is shown embodying still another modified form of the invention. The bag 10" differs from the bag 10x of FIG. 13 in that a single handle 16" is hingedly mounted on one of the top frame members 70 instead of attaching two handles to the side walls of the bag. The mounting of the handle 16" is somewhat similar to the mounting of the handle 16 of FIG. 2 including a rod 22 positioned in the loop 18 of the handle and the cotter pin 24" around the rod and extending through a hole 20" in the loop and extending through a hole 34 in the frame member 70" where the legs 32' of the cotter pin are spread apart against the bight portion 74 of the frame member 70". In this form however, a spherical member 76 having a central bore 78 is sleeved over the juxtaposed legs 32" of the cotter pin and interposed between the loop 18 of the handle 16 and the bight portion 74 of the frame member 70". This spherical member spaces the looped portion 18" of the handle away from the frame member 70" thereby preventing the looped portion of the handle from becoming fouled in the space between the frame members 70" when said members are side-by-side in closed position.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit'myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined 1n the app n e c ims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with the closure flap of the body of a ladys handbag, said closure flap having an opening therein, a handle for the handbag with loops at the ends thereof, said loops having a cotter pin hole midway the ends thereof, and attachments for securely attaching the looped ends of the handle to the flap, the attachment at each end including an elongated bar, round in crosssection in said looped end, said bar having an annular groove midway the ends thereof, in alignment with the cutaway portion in the looped end, a cotter pin with its looped body mounted around the annular groove of the bar and with its legs extending through the cotter pin hole in the looped end and through the opening in the closure flap into the interior of the body of the handbag, the legs of said cotter pin being separated inside the bag.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, characterized by a Washer interposed between the spread apart legs of the cotter pin and the adjacent material of the body of the handbag.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the closure flap has a lining and a washer is interposed between the spread apart legs of the cotter pin and the material of the closure flap and wherein the spread apart legs and washer are interposed between the material of the closure flap and the lining.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein there is a pair of attachments at each end of the handle for attaching the ends of the handle to the closure flap.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the washer is in the form of a rectangular plate having a central hole therein and having pairs of slits extending from the hole outwardly toward the ends of the plate, said slits intersecting the hole forming flexible fingers adapted to flex over the body and legs of the cotter pin,

the pointed corners of said fingers adapted to bite into the material of the handbag to prevent turning of the washer. 6. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the washer is in the form of a rectangular plate like body with a central hole and with rectangular openings adjacent each end in alignment with each other, ends of each rectangular opening being in the form of spurs adapted to be bent in opposed direction.

7. In combination with the side walls of the body of a ladys handbag, said side walls having pairs of spacing openings therein, a handle with loops at the ends thereof on each side wall, said loops having a cotter pin hole midway the ends thereof and attachments for securely attaching the looped ends of the handles to the side walls, the attachment at each opening in the side wall including an elongated bar in the looped end of the handle, cotter pin with its looped body mounted around the rod midway its ends, and with its legs extending through the cotter pin hole in the looped end and through the opening in the side wall into the interior of the body of the handbag, the legs of said cotter pin being separated inside the bag.

8. In combination with the closure frame members at the top of the opening in the body of a handbag, one of said frame members having spaced openings therein, a handle with loops at the ends thereof hingedly mounted on said one frame member, said loops having a cotter pin hole midway the ends thereof and attachments for securely attaching the looped ends of the handle to the said one frame member, the attachment at each opening in said one frame member including an elongated bar in the looped end of the handle, a cotter pin with its looped body mounted around the rod midway its ends, and with its legs extending through the cotter pin hole in the looped end of the handle and through the opening in the frame member into the interior of the body of the handbag, the legs of said cotter pin being separated inside the frame member, and a spherical member sleeved around the juxtaposed legs of the cotter pin between the looped end of the handle and the said one frame member to prevent the looped end of the handle from becoming fouled in the space between the frame members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,171,528 2/1916 Lowy 190--57 1,436,684 11/1922 Rosenband 15033 XR 1,815,912 7/1931 Hiering ISO-33 XR 6 2,302,599 11/1942 Burney 150-33 2,662,619 12/1953 Zweigbaum 15033 XR 2,706,024 4/1955 Kish 19058 FOREIGN PATENTS 897,718 5/1962 Great Britain.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

D. T. MOORHEAD, Adsislant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH THE CLOSURE FLAP OF THE BODY OF A LADY''S HANDBAG, SAID CLOSURE FLAP HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN, A HANDLE FOR THE HANDBAG WITH LOOPS AT THE ENDS THEREOF, SAID LOOPS HAVING A COTTER PIN HOLE MIDWAY THE ENDS THEREOF, AND ATTACHMENTS FOR SECURELY ATTACHING THE LOOPED ENDS OF THE HANDLE TO THE FLAP, THE ATTACHMENT AT EACH END INCLUDING AN ELONGATED BAR, ROUND IN CROSSSECTION IN SAID LOOPED END, SAID BAR HAVING AN ANNULAR GROOVE MIDWAY THE ENDS THEREOF, IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CUTAWAY PORTION IN THE LOOPED END, A COTTER PIN WITH ITS 